Alexander Belev
Encyclopedia
Alexander Belev was the Bulgarian commisar of Jewish Affairs during World War II
, famous with his antisemitic and strong nationalist views. He is also one of the founders of the Bulgarian Nationalistic Organization Ratnik
.
His mother was an Italian from Dalmatia
. Her name was Milanese.
At the end of the 1930s, Belev held several positions in the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and National Health. Later in December 1941, he was sent to Nazi Germany
, to study the antisemitic laws.
In February 1942, after the founding of the Commisariat of the Jewish Affairs, Belev became a chairman. As a hard-line national socialist, he was close friend of Theodor Dannecker
, representative of the Gestapo
in Bulgaria and deputy of Adolf Eichmann
.
Belev was active in the deportation of 11,000 Bulgarian Jews from the "new lands" (the name given to the territories annexed by Bulgaria from Greece and Yugoslavia, respectively Western Thrace and Macedonia) to Poland and the concentration camps. Belev had unlimited authority. Some people called him, ironically, "The Jewish King". In 1943, he was discharged.
After the Soviet Invasion in Bulgaria, in September 1944, Belev tried to escape to Germany, was recognized by a Jewish communist guerrilla, and killed.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, famous with his antisemitic and strong nationalist views. He is also one of the founders of the Bulgarian Nationalistic Organization Ratnik
Ratnik
Ratniks for the Advancement of the Bulgarian National Spirit or "Ратник" was a Bulgarian Nationalist organization founded in 1936. Its ideas were close to the German National Socialism, including far-right Nationalism, Antisemitism, but also loyalty to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Ratnik was a...
.
His mother was an Italian from Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. Her name was Milanese.
At the end of the 1930s, Belev held several positions in the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and National Health. Later in December 1941, he was sent to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, to study the antisemitic laws.
In February 1942, after the founding of the Commisariat of the Jewish Affairs, Belev became a chairman. As a hard-line national socialist, he was close friend of Theodor Dannecker
Theodor Dannecker
Theodor Dannecker was an SS Hauptsturmführer and one of Adolf Eichmann's associates....
, representative of the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in Bulgaria and deputy of Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
.
Belev was active in the deportation of 11,000 Bulgarian Jews from the "new lands" (the name given to the territories annexed by Bulgaria from Greece and Yugoslavia, respectively Western Thrace and Macedonia) to Poland and the concentration camps. Belev had unlimited authority. Some people called him, ironically, "The Jewish King". In 1943, he was discharged.
After the Soviet Invasion in Bulgaria, in September 1944, Belev tried to escape to Germany, was recognized by a Jewish communist guerrilla, and killed.